for better viewing of the seagull in flight ...
It's been hard to watch a series of tennis upsets for the Americans ... Andy Roddick lost a 5 setter to Marin Cilic (hope his shoulder injury isn't serious) and Venus Williams (after taking the first set 6-2 and getting a 5-3 lead on Li Na in the second) somehow dropped the match at 6-7, 5-7 ... unexplicably. Perhaps Tuesday's 3-set Doubles Match took more out of BOTH sisters than met the eye? They've not had a 'day of rest' since the tournament started.
To give Marin Cilic and Li Na their due, both played aggressively in their matches ... and deserved the wins.
Sad to see Safina & Nadal retire from their matches due to injury. Hope it's nothing serious enough to keep them off the courts in the future.
Amazing to see two Chinese players make it the the 'Quarters' ... a first for China!
This morning I'm watching my DVR recording of last night's match between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka ... can't believe how Serena's struggling ... dropping serve 3 times in this first set (after not dropping a serve in any of her previous singles matches)
... making 25 unforced errors ... failing to capitalize on numerous 'break' opportunities on Azarenka's serve ... losing the first set 4-6 ... dropping her first two service games in the second set. Simply stunning!
Victoria Azarenka has played with confidence from the start. Watching Serena drop two service games in the second set made things seem hopeless as Azarenka held for a 4-0 lead ... but Serena has clawed her way back to 3-4 (breaking back once & holding twice) then breaking again to level the set at 4 all ... holding serve for a 5-4 lead giving her a chance to break for the win and the opportunity to serve first in the 3rd set.
To her credit, Azarenka holds for 5 all ... but Serena holds for a 6-5 lead and another chance to break for the win & serve first in the 3rd set. She's making the same kind of come back that Li Na did against Venus in the previous match ... kind of fun to watch, though still worrisome until Serena actually wins the second set taking the match to a 3rd set.
Azarenka holds for the tiebreak at 6-6 that Serena wins (7-4) to even the match ... so there will be a 3rd set. I hope it's a competitive one from both players because that's the best kind of tennis to watch! I'm a bit concerned about Serena's health because she looked (and sounded) in pain earlier and didn't show much emotion when she closed out the second set. I guess I'll see what happens.
Both players have left the court so I'm going to finish & publish this before Mozilla crashes on me ... get a cup of coffee and enjoy the rest of the match. I know it's already been decided while I slept, but watching on the DVR makes it current for me so please don't tell me who wins when you stop by to comment.
I don't play tennis myself any longer, but I do love watching the major tournaments on television. I suspect Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko weren't thrilled having to wait a while longer to begin their match last night (yesterday in Australia). I'll be watching it next & don't want to know the outcome of it either ;-)
Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus
(anything but) Wordless Wednesday, Midweek Blues and Sky Watch
Thought for Today
"How can something bother you if you won't let it?"
the Quote Garden
20 comments:
Fabulous skycsapes...truly captivating! Love it!
I think the rain has finally eased up. :) Wonderful skyscapes!
Absolutely awesome shots. Nice work.
My WW: X-Ray Vision?
Don't you just hate it when you tape something to watch later, then someone tells you or you see it on the news? My husband will really enjoy your in depth commentary on the tennis, he's not been getting to see much. He's playing tennis right now as I'm commenting. He belongs to a club and has regular doubles matches every week, and also fits in some singles during the week. He plays the Cancer Tournament every year and other assorted tournaments. Love your oh so gloomy pictures with the poor bird up there!
I like those moody blue skies :)
Lovely photos--amazing color and it looks so textured--like I could feel it! And it makes me smile, feeling the joy you get from tennis!
Magnificent pictures!
Love your moody skies, great shots.
Hi There, Thanks for the tennis updates. I haven't been watching --but I do enjoy tennis.
Sorry to hear that the rains are back. Hope they will go away from you SOON... But---your photos of the clouds are great.
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh my, I LOVE these blue skies with the bird - they are beautiful!
Enjoy the tennis!
Gorgeous blue skies! Love the bird! Really terrific captures! Hope you have a great weekend!
Sylvia
The gull is soaring through the turbulent wind and enjoying it better than a passenger in a plane bumping around the clouds and swirling breezes...
Obviously I do not play tennis. But in the wheelchair I tend to observe things. Tennis seems to be a game where mental toughness and not over-thinking shots almost matters more than pure physical ability. A tough game where the player can defeat himself first...
Fantastic skies.
Great photos and post.
Happy weekend.
Those skies are beyond beautiful! The color is so bold and ominous! Wonderful!
Gorgeous skies and a fun tennis play by play, what more could a snowed in girl ask for. ~ Calico Contemplations
Those are aweseomely fabulous sky-shots. I love them.
Beautiful sky shots. I love the lone bird... looks like it flew through the parting clouds.
Yikes. That looks like some gnarly skies! Didn't seem to deter that bird any, though!
Thanks for playing along.
-Tisha
It's obvious that you enjoy watching tennis and I'm glad you had some good matches to enjoy. I'm also glad that you shared those pictures of the clouds overhead. They are dramatically beautiful.
Ooooo...more stormy skies! I don't follow tennis but I did catch some updates on the news.
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